Tortue FLNG: Marine Consultancy Named
US engineering consultants CH2M has been awarded a support role in BP's planned Tortue floating LNG development offshore Mauritania and Senegal.
BP in August appointed KBR its overall engineering services contractor for Tortue, handing it the pre-front end engineering design (Feed) contract. Now KBR has selected CH2M as the BP-approved civil and marine engineering support provider, CH2M said October 5.
BP with partner Kosmos are looking to take final investment decision in 2018 on their Tortue FLNG project, targeting start-up in 2021.
CH2M will provide engineering services, to be undertaken by its UK office, relating to various aspects of the project (subsea gas production, installation of a floating gas treatment unit, installation of a gas delivery pipe to meet domestic demand, and construction of a nearshore liquefaction facility).
KBR is expected to start work on its overall pre-Feed contract by end-2017. “We are pleased to perform a critical role working with KBR on this technically challenging project for BP,” said Dr Colin Skipper, CH2M vice president and practice director.
The Tortue project holds 25 trillion ft3 of proven gas reserves. However Kosmos’ geologists have estimated the Greater Tortue complex may contain up to 50 trillion ft3. BP announced late 2016 its $1bn-plus farm-in to Kosmos' resources offshore Senegal and Mauritania, including the Tortue FLNG project to be led by BP.
Under the farm-in, the duo agreed also to cooperate in "areas of mutual interest" also including offshore Gambia; this week it emerged that BP-Kosmos are looking to acquire promising acreage much further south, near where Kosmos has been shooting 3D seismic offshore Sao Tome e Principe.
Olivier de Souza